Bunch locating mechanism for cigar machines



May 14, 1946. H. H. WHEELER 2,400,449

'BUNCH LOCATING MECHANISM FOR `(QGR `MCHINS original Filed oct. sa,l 1938 2 snee'tE-sheet 1 HENRY H. WHEELER BY E TTORNEY May 14, 1946. H. H.- WHEELER BUNCH LocATING MECHANISM Fon cteAR MACHINES I 2 Sheets-Shen 2 Original Filed Oct. 8, 1958 ffy@- INVENTOR H Y. B

Patented May 14, 1946 Henry-H. .Wheelenj Bellerosc, N. Y., assignor to International -Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Original application October'S, 1938, Serial No.

234,001, now Patent No. 2,356,636,'dated Au- Ygust 22, 1944. Divided and this application March 24, 1943, Serial No. 480,295

(Cl. ISI- 81) '7 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar machines and constitutes a division of my co-pending application, Serial No, 234,001, filed October 8, 1938, which has issued as Patent No. 2,356,636 on August 22, 1944, for Bunch softening and shaping mechanism for cigar machines.

This invention relates primarily to improvements in bunch locating mechanism for use in positioning cigar bunches prior to their delivery into bunch shaping devices in order that each' bunch to be shaped may be properly positioned and uniform bunches result because of the operation of ther bunch locating mechanism- It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an improved cigar bunch locating mechanism consisting of two positively operatedcups which are adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the ends 'of a bunch to be shaped.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel type of bunch locatingmechanism which forms a part of a detachable bunch m'anpulating unit capable of being removed asa unit from the machine for replacement or repair.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel type of bunch locator in a cigar maunit for repair or replacement merely by loosenchine in which rotatable cups designed to engage y the ends of a partially formed cigar. bunch are mounted on a single support forming a part of a detachable bunch manipulating unit and soy vide a novel type cigar bunch locatingmecha-v nism for use in a cigar machine, whichmechanism is provided with rotatable' cups and means for adjusting the cups in order that they may be operative on substantially any length of cigar bec, ing formed in the cigar machine withrwhich this type of bunch locator may be used.

With these and other objects not specically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set'forth in the claims hereunto appended. y Y

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and whereinthe several reference characters designate the same or like elements:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the improved bunch locatingfmechanism;

Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation on line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of an improved cigar softening and shaping mechanism showing means for driving the bunch locating mechanism;

Figure 4 is a plan view taken on line 4--4 of Figure l, showing means for adjusting the tuck end locator and its supporting bracket; and

Figure 5 is a view of the same mechanism taken on line 5-5 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawings, the bunch locator mechanism of this invention is adapted to be used in cigar machines wherein each bunch is located prior to its transfer into the bunch shaping unit of a cigar machine. For purposes of illustration, the bunch locating mechanism forms apart of a detachable bunch softening and shaping unit designated generally U (Figure 3) which is `removably'mounted on the machine table so that if for any reason it is desired to remove the ing screws (not shown) the unit can be removed as a whole and repaired or replaced.

Unit U is provided with a transfer 20 swinging on an oscillatory shaft 2l which transfers raw nbunches from the rolling` table (not shown) to the cradle'Z enclosing'the bunch 'softener drum 25 on shaft 26. A transfer 2l mounted on a swinging 3L 32 ycarried by arms 33, 34 hingedon a stud in a cam operatedlever 35 whereupon the` jaws 3l, 32 are closed upon the bunch which is then further manipulated and moved by a plunger (not shown) into bunch shaping device (not shown) The operating mechanisms of the transfer 29 bunch softener drum V25, cradle 2:'5, transfer 2l, bunch locators 30a and 30h, jaws 3l, 3Q, and the plunger (not shown) Ywhich pushes a located bunch into a bunch shaping pocket (not shown) are enclosed within a housing 43 whose bottom section 44 is detachably affixed to the base plate 45 of thecigar machine. For convenience in assembling the machine, the housing@ is made up y of a central portion and two end portions. The

Cups 30a countershaft 53 is journalled in and protrudes from the bottom housing section 44 and carries on its protruding end a female coupling or clutch member 188 having a radial slot on its outer face adapted to admit a driving tooth of a, male clutch member 189 fastened on one end of a stub shaft 190 carrying the bevel gear 52 at its other end, which is driven from a bevel gear (not shown) on a shaft (not shown), suitably driven from the main shaft of the cigar machine of which this mechanism forms a part. Thus the various operating mechanisms enclosed in the housing 43 are driven in a predetermined timed "relationship to receive bunches from the rolling table and transmit them to successive pockets of the shaping turret (not shown), the position of the slot in the clutch member 188 being predetermined to obtain this relationship. When the bottom section 44 of the housing is detached from the base plate 45, the housing may be removed thereby withdrawing clutch member |88 from engagement with the clutch member |89. After the desired repairs have been effected, the housing may be replaced with its clutch member in coupled relation with the clutch member 189.

The shaft 2| is slidably mounted in bearings of frame 43 and carries a gear segment 69 and a drum cam 19. With segment `159 meshes a toothed segment 1| mounted on fulcrum shaft 12 and having a roller 13 in engagement With a cam track in one face of cam 51 on shaft 56 (Figure 3). The motion of arm '11, due to cam 5l, causes the jaws of transfer 29 to enter slots in the upper end of the cradle 24 and the circumference of the softener drum`25 (Figure 3) and deposit the bunch between the cradle and the softener 25, duringf withdrawal of the transfer jaws.

The drum 1D engages with a roller 14 adjustably mounted in a slot extending circumferential- 1y of the cam 1U in a portion of the housing concentric with the cam whereby the turning of the cam due to the motion of gear segment 11 causes an axial movement of shaft 21 for the purpose of bringing the bunch carried by transfer 29 into alignment with the softener drum 25. Customarily, to insure firm bunch heads, the latter are preferably placed slightly out of center with the delivery end of the rolling table so that the bunches will be positioned from the head end. The amount of this axial movement may be regulated by adjustment of roller 14 along its slot, to compensate for the different positions at which the bunch will be delivered in the case of straight and curved rolling tables. Thus with a curved table the head end of the bunch delivered therefrom ,will be nearer to the head locator 30a than in the case of a straight rolling table. Therefore the bunch in being transferred from a curved table to theso'ftener should be displaced axially suiciently to bring its head into the proper position relative to the head locator, and the roller 14 should be adjusted to produce a greater axial displacement of the bunch during transference.

The cradle 24 has lugs 15 by which it is resiliently supported somewhat in the manner shown in Patent No. 1,765,831, granted to J. F. Halstead, June 24, 1930, from collar 16 mounted on bars 11 supported in housing 43 and has a resilient rod (not shown) fastened in collar 16 and fixed in the lug, the latter loosely fitting the bars 11. At its delivery end it carries a spring-tensioned finger (not shown). This linger isl raised by the outgoing bunch and guides the bunch into the jaws of transfer 21 which have previously passed through slots (not shown) in the finger and assumed positions wherein the tips of the bottom jaws lie within the circumferential slots of the drum 25. The upper jaws thereof at this time are in a position to allow introduction of the bunch into the grippers'of transfer 21 with their tips adjacent the linger. The shaft 29 carries a gear segment 19 meshing with a segment arm 80 mounted on fulcrum shaft 12 and provided with an arm 89a carup the next bunch for delivery between locators 39a and 30h for locating.

The head end locator cup 39a (Figures 1 and 2) is fastened t-o a nipple 82 pinned to a shaft 83 journaled in a sleeve 84 slidable in bearings 85 of frame 43. The shaft 83 carries a pinion 86, and the sleeve 84 is provided with rack teeth 81. The tuck end locator cup 30h is revolubly mounted in a bracket 88 adjustably clamped on a sleeve 89 slidable in bearings 90 of frame 43, the sleeve 89 having rack teeth '9| and carrying a shaft 92 which has pinions 93 and 94 fastened to its ends. The pinion -94 through the intermediate gears 95 and 96 drives a gear 91 on the hub of the tuck end locator 3D1), and the pinions BB and 93 mesh with a gear 98 on a stud 99 in frame 43. The gear 98 is driven from a gear 100 on shaft 28 whereby the locators 30a and 30h are driven continuously in opposite directions. For accurate adjustment of bracket 88, the latter carries a pinion 181 meshing with rack teeth |62 cut into one side of sleeve 89, so that the turning of the pinion, after loosening the clamp screw 163, moves the bracket to the desired position.

A toothed segment arm |01 fulcrumed on a stud 102 in housing section 44 (Figure 3) and having a cam roller |03 in engagement with a drum cam 104 integral with gear 55 (Figure 3) engages with a gear 105 on a stud |06 (Figures 1 and 2f) carried by a bracket 101 fastened to the interior of housing 43. A gear 188 meshes with the rack teeth 81 and 91 in sleeves 84 and 89.V The gear 108 is turnably mounted on the hub of gear |05 and is angularly adjustable thereon upon unfastening screws 164 passing through arcuate slots I 65 in gear |09 and clamping Vthe latter against a shoulder on gear 105, to simultaneously move the locator cups toward or away from each other to compensate for various lengths of bunches. The motion of arm 101 thus causes simultaneous approaching movement of the knurlers 38a, 30h. The sleeve 89 has fastened thereon a guide arm 109 sliding on a stationary rod I IU in housing 43 and serving to prevent the sleeve from-turning and thus to keep the locators 30a, 30D in alignment.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustrate the invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same.r It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigar machine locator mechanism comprising a pair of parallel sleeves, shafts revolubly mounted within said sleeves, a pair of axially aligned bunch locators operatively connected to said shafts adapted to engage the head and tuck ends of a bunch, means for continuously rotating said shafts in opposite directions to oppositely revolve said locators, and mechanism for moving said sleeves in opposite directions to bring the locators'into engagement with the head and tuck ends of a bunch and opera- Y tively connected to said shafts, means for continuously rotating said shafts in opposite directions to oppositely revolve said locators, and mechansm for moving said sleeves in opposite directions to bring the locators into engagement with the head and tuck ends of the bunch, the tuck end locator being supported by a bracket ad-v justably mounted on its respective sleevefto ac,- commodate bunches of various lengths.'

3. A cigar machine sub-assemblage comprising a housing, a countershaft journaled withinAV said shafts, said locator shafts being driven from said countershaft, and said sleeves being each provided with rack teeth, and a pinion meshing with said rack teethv and intermittently driven from said countershaft.

4. In a cigar machine, the combination withA a housing, of a pair of offset members supported within said housing and protruding'therefrom, oppositely facing bunch locators mounted on the ends of said members Vin axial alignment with each other, mechanism for imparting axial movement to said members to move said locators axially into and out of engagement with the head and tuck ends only of a cigar bunch, said mechanism including rack teeth formed on each of said members and a pinion meshing with said rack teeth to produce opposite and equal axial movement of the locators toward or away from each other into and out of engagement with said head and tuck ends of said cigar bunch upon rotation of said pinion.

5. In a cigar machine, a table, a housing, means detachably mounting said housing on said table, a pair of offset members supported within said housing and protruding therefrom, oppositely facing bunch locators mounted on the ends of said members in axial alignment with each other, mechanism for impartingaxial movement to said members to move said locators axially into and out of engagement of the head Aand tuck ends` only of a cigar bunch, said mechanism including rack teeth formed on each of said members and a pinion meshing with said rack teeth to produce opposite and equal axial movement of the locators-toward or away from each other into and out of engagementrwith said head and tuck ends of said cigar bunch upon rotation of said pinion.

.6. In a cigar machine, the combination with a housing, of a pair of offset members supported within said housing and protruding therefrom, oppositely facing bunch locators mounted on the ends of said members in alignment With each other, to engage the head and tuck kends of a cigar bunch, the adjacent faces of said members being provided with rack teeth, a pinion meshing With said rack teeth to produce opposite and equal movement of the locators toward or away from each other upon rotation of said pinion, and mechanism for intermittently rotating said pinion, said mechanism being adjustable to com-J pensate for various lengths of cigar bunches.

7. In aY cigar machine, the combination with a housing, of a pair of members offset from each other .in a vertical direction and extending horizontally from said housing, one vof said members extending a greater distance from said housing than the other, spaced bunch locators mounted one on each of said members'in alignmentV and facing each other to engage the head and tuck ends of a cigar bunch between, them, and actuating means within the housing acting on said members to impart equal and opposite horizontal movement toward and away from each other of said locators to bring the same together on the head and tuck ends of the bunch to locate the same.

HENRY H. WHEELER. 

